Youths that have seen wrong side of law working on new 'Armadillo' police vehicle

Wednesday

Sep 30, 2009 at 12:01 AMSep 30, 2009 at 1:59 PM

Youths working at Glory to Glory Customs already have experienced the wrong side of the law. So it was an intriguing pairing when the Peoria Police Department recently awarded Glory to Glory the $7,500 contract to convert a donated Brinks armored truck into a second Armadillo, or nuisance abatement surveillance vehicle.

Ryan Ori

Youths working at Glory to Glory Customs already have experienced the wrong side of the law.

So it was an intriguing pairing when the Peoria Police Department recently awarded Glory to Glory the $7,500 contract to convert a donated Brinks armored truck into a second Armadillo, or nuisance abatement surveillance vehicle.

"That's one of the cool things about it," said Juan Rios Jr., an ordained minister who created the car shop. "One of the kids told me, 'A couple years ago I would have been trying to figure out how to break into the Armadillo.' They realize they've gotten into trouble because of the choices they've made."

The Armadillo, dispatched to trouble properties throughout Peoria in an effort to curb lawless behavior, has gained national media attention, including a front-page article in the Wall Street Journal.

Converted from its former life as a Brinks truck, the original Armadillo is reinforced with bulletproof windows, locks, coverings for all lights and foam-filled tires. Inside, cameras and computer software are in place to record activities outside a problem residence.

Neighborhood response has been so strong the waiting list for the truck often reaches several weeks.

When a second armored truck was donated, Peoria police looked to Glory to Glory to perform the work. It is funded by asset forfeitures.

Glory to Glory's work will become the Armadillo 2.

"(Rios) has a ministry that reaches out to kids, and the Armadillo gives the police a chance to work with kids who have been in trouble and are trying to rehabilitate and do good things," said Peoria police spokesman Doug Burgess. "This gives them a chance to be involved in a positive project."

Rios' customized work has appeared in "The Fast and the Furious" movies. Mostly through contacts with Tazewell County probation officers, Rios takes in youngsters who have been arrested and must work community service hours.

Instead of wages, workers receive community service hours and funds to pay legal fees, restitution and other costs.

The program is no guarantee.

Of last year's first "class" of 14 young workers, four have been arrested since finishing their stint in the shop.

"You help them as much as you can and then you take off the training wheels," Rios said. "If they fall, you help pick them back up."

Michael Howard, 16, of Pekin enjoyed working at Glory to Glory so much, he kept coming when his community-service obligation was over. But when the school year began in August and Howard moved away from the shop, he resumed drug use and was once again in trouble.

Recently, Rios welcomed Howard back.

"It was nice to be around people with the same experiences, in a positive environment," Howard said. "It kept me away from the stuff that got me in trouble. (Eventually) I just got back around the same people."

Glory to Glory's second "class" - five youths and an adult - has begun preparing the "naked Armadillo" and preparing it for the body reinforcement and painting before it gets returned for city of Peoria employees to install cameras and other electronics.

"The kids realize that instead of taking something away from the community, they're going to be giving something back," Rios said.

Glory to Glory is located at 228 Margaret St. in Pekin but soon will relocate to Mackinaw. For information, call (309) 453-1016.